Overview

Ismail, the profesor, is a retired teacher in a small Colombian town where he passes the days pretending to pick oranges while spying on his neighbor Geraldina as she lies naked in the shade of a ceiba tree on a red floral quilt. The garden burns with sunlight; the macaws laugh sweetly. Otilia, Ismail's wife, is ashamed of his peeping and suggests that he pay a visit to Father Albornoz. Instead, Ismail wanders the town visiting old friends, plagued by a tangle of secret memories: Where have I existed these years? I answer myself: up on the wall, peering over. When the armies slowly arrive, the profesor's reveries are gradually taken over by a living hell. His wife disappears and he must find her. We learn that not only gentle, grassy hillsides surround San José but landmines and coca fields. The reader is soon engulfed by the violence of Rosero's narrative that is touched not only with a deep sadness, but an extraordinary tenderness.

ISBN-13

9780811218641

ISBN-10

0811218643

Weight

0.55 Pounds

Dimensions

5.20 x 0.70 x 8.00 In

List Price

$14.95

Edition

1st Edition

Format

Paperback

Language

English

Pages

208 pages

Publisher

New Directions

Published On

2009-09-15



View All Offers

Sort by:

Rows per page:

1–5 of 5

Condition
Seller
Seller Comments
Price
Used, Like New
Seller details
GreatBookPrices-
★★★★☆

Columbia, MD, USA

100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition. We offer expedited shipping to all US locat...
$20.14

 Free delivery by: 31 Mar 2026

Used, Like New
Seller details
Wonder Book - Member ABAA/ILAB
★★★★★

Frederick, MD, USA

Like New condition. A near perfect copy that may have very minor cosmetic defects.
$20.15

 Free delivery by: 31 Mar 2026

Brand New
Seller details
GreatBookPrices-
★★★★☆

Columbia, MD, USA

100% Money Back Guarantee. Brand New, Perfect Condition. We offer expedited shipping to all US locat...
$34.70

 Free delivery by: 31 Mar 2026

Used, Good
Seller details
Bonita
★★★★☆

Santa Clarita, CA, USA

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. May be an ex-library book.
$40.42

 Free delivery by: 31 Mar 2026


Bookstores.com relies on cookies to improve your experience.